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Trump Warns Venezuela, Flight Diverted Blocking Machado’s Return

7/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump told Venezuelan official Rodríguez not to allow opposition leader María Machado to be harmed.
An airline official said Rodríguez’s government threatened to revoke the carrier’s license if Machado boarded a Panama City-to-Venezuela flight.
The flight was diverted, preventing Machado’s return to Venezuela.
Recent polls show Machado is the only politician with majority support among Venezuelans.
Analyst López Maya warned that her decline would hurt democratization prospects.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump told Venezuelan official Rodríguez not to allow opposition leader María Machado to be harmed.
An airline official said Rodríguez’s government threatened to revoke the carrier’s license if Machado boarded a Panama City-to-Venezuela flight.
The flight was diverted, preventing Machado’s return to Venezuela.
Recent polls show Machado is the only politician with majority support among Venezuelans.
Analyst López Maya warned that her decline would hurt democratization prospects.